UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Reckless wreckers

Q1. With reference to the June 2025 US-Israeli military operations against Iran's nuclear infrastructure, consider the following facilities: 1. Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant 2. Natanz Fuel Enrichment Plant 3. Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant 4. Isfahan Nuclear Technology Centre Which of the above is/are correctly identified as facilities that were struck during these operations?

  1. Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant
  2. Natanz Fuel Enrichment Plant
  3. Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant
  4. Isfahan Nuclear Technology Centre
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q2. During Operation Midnight Hammer on 22 June 2025, how many Iranian nuclear sites were directly struck by US forces?

  • A. Two
  • B. Three
  • C. Four
  • D. Seven

Q3. With reference to the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant and the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant in Iran, consider the following statements: 1. While Fordow enriches uranium to about 60% U-235, Bushehr is a civilian electricity-generating reactor and does not itself enrich uranium. 2. Fordow is built deep inside a mountain, whereas Bushehr is a Russia-built coastal facility on the Persian Gulf. 3. Both Fordow and Bushehr were directly struck during Operation Midnight Hammer in June 2025. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. While Fordow enriches uranium to about 60% U-235, Bushehr is a civilian electricity-generating reactor and does not itself enrich uranium.
  2. Fordow is built deep inside a mountain, whereas Bushehr is a Russia-built coastal facility on the Persian Gulf.
  3. Both Fordow and Bushehr were directly struck during Operation Midnight Hammer in June 2025.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. Which of the following bodies is mandated to carry out safeguards verification of Iran's declared nuclear material and has been issuing the periodic 'Verification and Monitoring' reports on the status of Iranian facilities after the June 2025 strikes?

  • A. United Nations Security Council Sanctions Committee on Iran
  • B. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
  • C. Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)
  • D. Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO)

Q5. Which one of the following is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, occupation of which by foreign military forces since 2022 has been described by the IAEA as the first instance of a functioning nuclear power plant being held in an active war zone?

  • A. Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant
  • B. Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant
  • C. Rivne Nuclear Power Plant
  • D. South Ukraine Nuclear Power Plant